What Is Forgiveness - 77x7?

"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."~ Matthew 18:21-22 

To understand the word ''forgive", I will do my own little English teaching here Lol! A separation of the word "forgive" will give us "for- give". In order to understand the concept of forgiveness, I think "for" might be the shortened version of "fore" from the other word "give". So since I am teaching English today, just the first word "FORE" in English as you are aware means “first”. "Give" is to release something within your hold to another whether by omission or commission. Thus to forgive simply means to be the first to let go of something within your hold. (Copy and tweet). Love my English teaching? Lol! On a more serious note, the greatest challenge we face as humans is our inability to constantly walk in forgiveness. (Copy and tweet). 

It’s easy to hold on to grudges for years without any mental prick or so to let it go. I believe forgiveness isn’t as easy as it’s been made to seem. However, forgiveness is a must if you desire to live long . (Copy and tweet). I tend to see people who don’t want to forgive as being selfish and myopic. So are you saying the woman who endured rape should forgive? Should the family whose son or daughter murdered forgive? Should the young man whose father or mother absconded in their infancy and them at the mercy of others  forgive? I am saying yes they should forgive and allow the laws of the land handle the rest. Forgiveness is a must in spite of the ills a person meted out to us. (Copy and tweet).

There are two types of forgiveness I am aware of- self-forgiveness and that of others. (Copy and tweet). Until you learn to forgive yourself for the ills perpetrated either by omission or commission against you and others, reconciliation with the self won’t be achieved. (Copy and tweet). Many at times people are bitter, hard on themselves and rebellious against that which is good because of their inability to forgive. Others carry the burden of the guilt for years which ends up marring the beauty of good they have. (Copy and tweet). The more a person learns to forgive, the healthier and united will they be within and without. (Copy and tweet). Until there is harmony between your inside and outside, progress in life will be difficult. If you carry guilt, bitterness or anger for a long time, you will only be a servant to their dictates and forever be at their mercy. (Copy and tweet). Let it go!

Am sure you’ve heard a thousand times that to err is human but to forgive is divine. (Copy and tweet). Have you ever pondered on why forgiveness is equated to the divine? There is something about the Spirit in man that hates to hold on to grudges. (Copy and tweet). The Spirit of man was created to be free from any inhibitions and holding on to hurts and grudges does nothing to aid your spiritual growth. Human beings are the only people who will hurt, cheat, betray, reject and slander you. (Copy and tweet). However those of us who act to daily forgive truly emulate the limitless power of the divine. (Copy and tweet).

To err is human and to forgive is divine I repeat! The “divine” do not hold on to accounts of ills committed against them but rather walk constantly in forgiveness. I don’t forgive people because i am weak, I forgive people because I am strong enough to know people make mistakes. (Copy and tweet). Show me a person who constantly walks in forgiveness and I will show you an individual who carries joy, radiates love and progresses in life quickly. (Copy and tweet). 77x7 was the number of times Jesus told Peter and every child of God to forgive. Its shows the length, breadth and width of how much a person should learn to let go. (Copy and tweet).

Why should one forgive even when it’s not the person's fault as a friend asked me the other time? This sounds like an oxymoron- a contradictory word. If no one has wronged, hurt or betrayed you, I don’t see the reason why you have to forgive them unless manipulation is at work. (Copy and tweet). There are some who have been abused, bullied and beaten into submission and made to believe they are constantly at fault. (Copy and tweet). To such ones, I say may God grant you to power to break free from your oppressors in Jesus' mighty name. When you are free, learn to forgive those who hurt you!

We been forgiven several times by others and we have to emulate their doings. (Copy and tweet). As a child of God, can you count the number of times you have been forgiven through the blood of Christ? Ought we not repeat the same when it comes to dealing with others? I don't find it difficult forgiving anymore because I have been FORE-GIVEN by GOD. (Copy and tweet). Learn to be a walking "forgiveness"!

Talk About It -

A. Why do you think people find it difficult to forgive?

Yours 

Joe Akuoko II